Pneumatic suspension device for vehicles.



J. WILLIAMSON. PNEUMATIC SUSPENSIONv DEVICE- FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIbATION FILED MAR.31, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

- M/VENZOR -J17Z7un/ #ollzldmo'b BY mam/Era ennoirn'nc sosrnusxon onvmn roe VEHICLEs.

moronic.

Spcmlficatlon of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 6,131.2.

. Application filed March 81, 1911. Serial 1T0. 618,181. 4'

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN W-mmsmson, a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings," and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumat c Suspension Devices for Vehicles, of which thetollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The principal; ohjectof this invention is I to provide an improved means for utilizing a pneumatic cushion device as a sprmg or auxiliary spring between a frame member of a vehicle, and the axle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for engaging a pneumatic annular memher or ring, on the inner and outer sides by two members respectively such two members being connected to the axle and to the spring or'other frame memher, in which arrangement a resilient action obtained operating universally in a ver tical plane, and in which construction when the two members cooperating with the pneumatic ring move either up or down a very large portion of the ring is compressed b their movement, at the same time a fore-an alt movement of the two ring engaging members will engage and! compress a comparatively large portion of the resilient ring. With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawing showing embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 shows conventionally the rear portion of a vehicle, with my invention applied-thereto and shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical enlarged section on the line of ilk-H of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a side elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig.4: is a section of the device as shown in Fig. l with a different form of inner member. Fig. 5 is a vertical section enlarged on th line vv of Fig. 1.

While this invention is especially designed for use in motor cars or vehicles, it can be used with any kind of a vehicle employing a body and a wheel and axle. In Fig. 1 is shown the rear portion 7 of the irame mem berpf a motor vehicle, with a semiQelliptical spring 8, and a wheel 9, carried by the axle 10, that may be of any desued form or con strnotion, and is shown as solid.

One of the purposes of this invention is to use a pneumatic ring in an upright .positlon, and with its opposed membcrsco nected to the s ring and. axle respect/figs y yet requiring t e separation betwdirgthe spring and axle of a very shortdistance such as a iew inches. As shown in the drawings this is accomplished by distorting thering from extending inn circle, by making it somewhat elliptical with the major axis horizontahand fat the same time forming a kind of reentrant portion at one of the hori- Zontal sides that are shown asdisposed at the top.

As illustrated, there is provided a' casing having a peripheral wall 12 that is-somewhat elliptical in general outline, but has the lower wall 13 'extendin substantially in a horizontal plane. The en portions 14: and 15, formed in the shape of asemi-circle, and

the top instead of being horizontal like the bottom has a rentrant portion 16 in the form of an ogee curve. This casing may be provided with side plates 17 and 18 corre sponding in shape-to its outline and secured thereto in any suitable manner, one of them' being readily removable for access to the interior.

The resilient member is shown in the form of an endless tubular ring 19, such as the single tube pneumatic tires at present in use on various forms of vehicles. The size or circumference of this ring is such that it'will fit in the casing and engage the inner face of the peripheral wall 15. Thering 19 incloscs a floating member in the. form of a block 20, shown as solid, but wllichiobviously may be a chamber or hollow member. The periphery of this block and its dimensions are such that it is inclosed by the ring 19 when placed in. the casing-anduengages the same'throughout its perimeter. Thus it will be seen that the ring or tube wheninfiated will engage the casing and theuhlockby its opposite portions. This block is not, secured to the side Walls 17 and 1825f the cas ing, butis free fherefrcn" n"? memor floats inside of the ring or tree to have a universal movement in a vertical plane, to compress the pncumaticring, when is at the reentrant portion 16, .plate 21 placed around the axle. Suptable yoke and block are a the spring. By

moved in any direction whatever in a vertical plane from its normal position. These two engaging'members for the inside and outside of the resilient ring 19, that are relatively free to move in the plane of the ring, are connected with the twomembers of the vehicle that are usually. directly secured together, that is, the axle and the spring or other member of the' frame. As shown the floating member or block is secured to the spring, and the axle is directly secured to t is casing 12. j

The axle is shown secured to the casing by a clamp means are provided for rigidly connecting the floating block 20 with the frame member such as the spring 8. Bolts 22, 23 extend out from the block on each side passing through openings 24 inthe side walls. 17

and 18 of the casing, that are large enough to alla w free movement of the bolts without engaging margins of the opening. A yoke member is shown connecting the spring with these bolts, in the form of clamp bolts 25 and 26 on each side, secured to said bolts, and connected with the spring by means of-el-amp plates 27 and 28. A cross-bar'29 .i's'placed on the bolts with the lugs, totake the top, the axle passing through the yoke and having a considerable free movement in all directions ina vertical-plane, without striking either of the yoke members of these means the axle is rigidly secured to the casing member, while the spring is rigidly connected with the block 20, and thelatter has a free and universal movement in a vertical plane inside of the casing, tllflt lii limited only by the compression of the r esilient tube 19 interposed between the block .and the wall of the cas1ng. Of course it is understood that one of these devices is provided on each side of the car for each spring and connected with each endportion of the axle.- The tube 191s shown as having a valve stem 30 that projects-out through an opening in the casing, for inflation of the tube. In Fig. 2

the same construction is illustrated, but the block and casing are simply made much wider to accommodate a plurality of the resilient tubes 19 that are. laced side by side, and the construction and operation of such devices is perfectly obvious. This is desirable for commercial vehicles or cars of heavy weight, where a single tube might not,

be suflicient to withstand the strain.

in Fig. 4.- the block 20 is shown as having as the spring, by simply disconnecting such members; and will result in merely elevating the spring and booy a very short d stance such as a few inches, which need be only sullicient to allow a vertical movement equal to the maximum movement of the block'or floating member inside of the casing.

It 'will also be understood from the an rangement or shape of the casing and block, that the normal load or strain will be between the block and the lower portion of the casing, for the reason that the casing being secured to the axle corresponds to the supporting member and the body being connected with the block, serves to force the latter downward against the lower portion of th casing. This will serve to compress the p eumatic ring along the lower horizontal portion 13 of the casing and the block. But when during the running of the vehicle there is a rebound or recoil following a large depression of the-spring '8, the block 20 will be carried upward, and tend to raise the axle and wheels with connected parts, such as'the driving shaft. This will result in compressing such portion of the ring 19 lies between the upper portion of the block and the opposite portion of the casing, and will engage the tube along a portion extending in a double curve in the similar horiyontal direction and which is longer than the'comparatively straight lower portion 18. This will give the action of a shock absorber and. tend to neutralize and absorb the rebound and thereby take the place of all such devices as are almost necessary on vehicles of any considerable weight. But.

the device also acts as a cushion to absorb shocks in a foro-and-aft direction. When the wheel strikes a stone or'obstruction, it tends to stop, that will put a strain on the casing in the rearward direction, and the floating block 'carried by the spring will move forward partaking of the momentum of the car. This will result in the compression of the ring. at the front semicircular portion thereof, that will again act as a shock absorber. But this forward movement of the block relative to the casing, will also compress the ring 19 at the rear portion of the reentrant curved part 16 and increase the amount of the resilient tube that is compressed by such an operation.- On the other hand, when the wheel moves into a depresslon in the road', the wheel will tend to move forward faster than the body and the frame 12 will move forward relatlve to the block 20. This will have the effect of Eli compressing the tube at the rear scmi circw lzir portion of the casing; and will have the lumber climb of compressing the cube iii; forward half portion ol the reenireni; curved part 16, which will have a. very large and eiiicient resilient opera/(ion.

Having thus described my invention, 1

claim as new and desire to secure by Letiers Patent- 1. In a vehicle, the combination with lLllB side and frame membec, of e casing, en annular resilient member vertically orieng'ed iii the casing and engaging *Zllfi) pc- I i'ipherol Well of the casing, 21 bind; in the casing engaging the resilient member by its Penphei'y and freely movebie iii the casing in all directions io compress tile resilient -member when moved in any direction in said casing, the casing and clock similar peripheral reeotmni ortions, the

mile and the frame member being connecied with the block and the casing, by the iolocli: being secured to one of sold iwo mom se'zrs end the casing at its reenilrant poetic secured to the other of said two 2. in a Vehicle, the combination Wiili e frame member and the axle, of casing having a reentmni portion. and e lioi-izonisl portion, e block of {i similar located in the casing, s resilient member iiiierposei'l between the periphery ofilie block end the Welloil the casing, bolts projecting-out from the block on each side, a yoke memos: ex tending upwardly from said bolt-so l each side, seid two members the yoke and the reentrant portion of the casing beiiig one oi them secured to the axle and ihe oiliei" one in the frame member oi. the vehicle,

3, A. suspension device compilsing e was iiig provided with sizzle seat, means for fastening said casing to said axle, below ilie some, e block corresponding iii contour "with said cssingend freely movable 'thei'ein, re

siiient means surrounding said blooli, z'md yokesgior suspending said block from s we hicle ,Imme.

- ling I l. A suspension device comprising e cos mg provided with o transversely arranged axle soot in lcs top, means for clamping an axle to said seat, said casing being provided frame member and an axle, of e casing having' s reentmnz portion and a horizontal poi-tiers, block located in the casing, a re silieiiis member interposed between the -peripliery of tlielolock end the Well of the casing, bolts projecting ou'i from the blockon each side, o, yoke member extending up- Wm'dly fromv said bolts on each side, seed iiwo members ilieyoke and the casing being one of them secured $0 the axle and the other one to frame member of the vehicle.

'3, A cushioning device comprising a casing having a rentrant ortion, cushioning means located Within 1 e casing and also having a reenti'enu portion and an elon- 'getedfiostin member having surfaces of relatively di ereni; extents engaging with sold cushioning means and on. opposite sides 'ihereof.

This specification signed and witnessed this sole day of March A, D. 1911. i

' JOHN VVILLIAMSUH; Witnesses W. A Towxqiss, J12,

" MAYER. 

